Whether dreaming or awake, our subconscious and our connection to the universe are always present although we may never be aware of either, during our limited lifetime in our physical bodies. Throughout pictorial and written human history, dating back tens of thousands of years, there are records of human beings having 'lifted the veil' between the seeming reality of daily life, the passage of death and communication with the 'spirit world'. All major religions speak of a prophet or 'holy' man or woman, who was able to transcend earth and listen to 'God', or the angels or spirits bringing messages to their tribe, their kingdom, their family or just to themselves.

You may remember some of the stories of Joseph, one of Jacob's 12 son's who had a special gift of dreaming and prophecy but the obstacle of his own siblings being terribly jealous of him and all the suffering that caused for Joseph. You may not be familiar with the prophetic writings, art and music of the Catholic nun and mystic Hildegard of Bingen of Germany (see links in references) or of Black Elk of the Lakota, or Valentin Rasputin of Russia-but all had a proven gift of "sight" into future events and all were healers of considerable influence in their time.

There are many paths to reach an altered consciousness and refine the gift of "sight". Deep meditation and breathing, continual special prayers and chanting, ingesting specific herbs, trance inducing dance and music, can facilitate crossing thresholds. Certain drugs and traumatic shock can cause an individual to be propelled into another "world" or find her/himself "between worlds", seeing both their usual 'reality' and other dimensions; having their 'third eye'* opened. www.chakras.info/third-eye-chakra/

In my life I have had numerous "between world" experiences. At first, when I was a child, I wasn't conscious this was what they were but fortunately I had a very wise and psychic paternal grandmother who helped me understand not to be afraid of such 'visitations'. Often children who are abused physically, sexually, emotionally and who witness violence or abuse, will excarnate from their bodies to cope as well as compartmentalize the events they see. They do so automatically in order to keep their mind and spirit protected and functioning.

Excarnation feels as if you are leaping out of your body. At times I would see things happening as if I was on the ceiling or be very tiny in a hidden corner of the room. My physical body was still at the same place, but my mind and spirit were elsewhere. The western neurological/medical/psychiatric description and label is "dissociation", but many other healing traditions report and treat this differently-with great success. www.omicsonline.org/trauma-and-dissociation-neurological-and-spiritual-perspectives-2161-0487.1000116.php?aid=12096"Dissociation is viewed as an opportunity for the traumatized person to reclaim the soul parts and to experience a tremendous feeling of healing and wholeness. In Shamanic cultures, it is believed that during dissociation the spirit helpers place the traumatized person in an altered state. In this trance-like state, the person witnesses the soul part or parts in their frozen state. With the assistance of spiritual guides and helpers, the soul parts are removed from the trauma scene, taken to a safe place, offered a healing, and then reintegrated back into the larger and now more complete and whole soul."This happened to me at times when I was in locations where extreme violence was all around me, as well as when I was attacked and hit by a car. During the time I was unconscious because of injuries, I could still "see" myself and also a continuum of time and events into the future. bostonintuitive.com/2016/05/16/can-trauma-induce-psychic-awareness/

My training at Georgetown University helped me refine my skills in order to be able to "excarnate" and compartmentalize of my own volition. Later, I learned how to integrate these coping mechanisms, albeit with very painful memories and physical symptoms. These powerful electric like experiences could be "grounded".

Yet another way to "travel between worlds" is in ceremony. Being a Sundancer, (WiWayang Wacipi in Lakota) for many years involved learning the language of traditional prayers, the protocols of the Inipi (sweat lodge) and learning the discipline of preparation, complete fasting and extreme physical exertion and concentration. These ceremonies are unique to certain Native American tribes. These ways have been used for thousands of years to help Medicine people with tools to help more people heal. Often in the times before, during and after Sundance, messages are revealed. Sometimes you need help to interpret those messages. Sometimes they are crystal clear. When you try to transmit what you have received you may be hit hard with disbelief, denial and accusations from others, but over time you will know if the message is/was true/valid. Most people will have no clue what you, (or I right now) are speaking about. Here is a short documentary to introduce some aspects of Sundancing to you if you do not know what the actual ceremony is about: www.youtube.com/watch?v=EK4fCv5ekzI

This week we were introduced to new music while performing simple Qigong and Tai Chi movement exercises. One piece seeped into my heart and spirit. I saw a number of images while doing the exercises. The music keeps playing inside me at various times of the day and night. I found it online and remarkably, the video made to this music had a few of the same images I created in my own mind. The only difference was that the "boy" in my mind was my son, Denali when he was younger and the boy in the video (click on link: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ulh3l_DWcdQ) is someone different. The title of the musical piece is: "Between Worlds" by Roger Subirana of Spain.

We went into the mountains on Saturday (March 9), and again I heard the music and then "saw" scenes somewhere far from here. Maybe in the present, maybe in the future...this is not an exact science so I am not sure of the meaning yet. However, I decided to be brave and write about this realm of experience.

Words are so inadequate to try and describe the sensations and "scenes" but I am making an effort for those of you who may know/experience this, too. I say "brave" because those who do not, or will never know of "between worlds", will call you (have jeered at me) "crazy" or "delusional" or "ridiculous", etc. In addition to my personal "sight" I have become familiar with over many decades, I have an additional transporting feeling since my son's death in 2013, of being between holding his hand in the skies (heaven) and holding my daughter's hand on earth. I am floating between the two. In the floating space sometimes I "see" people, events, places far away as if from a hawk eye's view. I breathe through these glimpses of another "world" and try to remain calm, peering in as long as I can before these "scenes" fade. Often in a daydream on planes, when I have a window seat and look out at the clouds-suddenly I am in the clouds in a vast skyscape. It is different than imagining-it is a type of "travelling" while I am on transport. It would be such a balm to meet others who have similar experiences/sensations/gifts. The few I used to speak to about these phenomenon have now crossed the threshold. They are no longer on the physical plane in human form. It does get lonely at times. Maybe you can relate? "...parallel but separate views of dissociation emerge from two distinct paradigms for managing the symptoms and for healing the dissociative responses. The psychotherapist trained solely in Western methods of helping focuses on the application of strategies to mainly gain the attention of the brain’s left hemisphere and thereby attempts to heal the cognitive mind. The traditional Shaman, and the therapist trained in spiritual healing practices believe the soul, like the body, has self-healing capabilities and offers strategies to assist the soul in reclaiming its wholeness. To combine the methodologies from these two distinct world views is to offer the trauma client an approach aimed at healing body, mind and spirit." www.omicsonline.org/trauma-and-dissociation-neurological-and-spiritual-perspectives-2161-0487.1000116.php?aid=12096My dear "Aunties" Jesse, Phoebe and Bea-Gumbaynngirr elder women in Australia, counselled me years ago to go to the "waters" to communicate with them and with the "old fellas" if I was ever stuck or confused about what to do...my next step in life. This past summer swimming in the aquamarine Mediterranean sea off the coast of Malta, I remembered their advice. While snorkeling I had an other worldly "vision" of what was coming to me and the path toward Yun Tai mountain, where I was this past weekend. In an earthbound sense I am between the Eastern and Western 'worlds' continually here in Henan province, China.

There is a branch of Traditional Chinese medicine and Shaolin practice which also involves deep understanding of "spiritual" aspects of healing. They apply certain acupuncture points, Qigong movements and meditations for protocols to ease the effects of most human conditions including of: "mad and/or hungry ghosts" plaguing an individual, ancestral grief, aphasia and "spirits out of the gates" or ex-carnation/dissociation. It is a pity and a waste of knowledge that western medicine/science is most often skeptical, chauvinistic and dismissive of more ancient traditions. There are/were some "famous" Traditional Chinese Medicine doctors and Shaolin healers who could "see" into a patient's body to determine the ailment/illness. This is without the use of any technology such as MRIs, X-rays, ultrasound, etc. Watch this short video for some "uses" of certain skills by the US and former Soviet Union. www.youtube.com/watch?v=67vx9dK3irI​Non-acknowledgement of forces greater than human beings leads to very narrow perspectives and diagnosis, in my opinion.

Few bridges between the two spheres of thought and practice have been crossed, however there are more people who are opening their minds to the possibility, than before. This is a promising start. From my first person viewpoint, healing continues wherever I may be and progresses with my years on Earth. The merging of my western, eastern, Indigenous and allopathic treatments continues over time. Plasticity in our brains means we can "re-wire" if we choose to do the hard work required to re-orient our thinking. Habits can be re-directed. Our spirits are resilient if we nurture them.

We all will eventually cross from this world to the next. For the time being, I am exploring this space "between worlds" which is the title of the beautiful, ethereal composition by Roger Subirana Mata, shared twice in this week's post.

May you and your loved ones continue in "good health"! May those of you who know what travelling between worlds is...please feel free to comment and contact me.

From Yun Tai mountain,

Jo*Including another link to "Between Worlds" by Roger Subirana-same music different video images-for your double enjoyment